This Homelessness Week, MercyCare has opened the doors to its newest facility to support women and children impacted by family and domestic violence (FDV) in the Kimberley.
Jalbingan, which was officially opened by Hon. Jessica Stojkovski, Minister for Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence on Wednesday 5 August, has become our third FDV accommodation in Broome. The site – formally Catherine House – has been upgraded and repurposed as part of the Cook Government’s $4.2 million commitment to expand crisis accommodation in the region.
Housing up to 12 residents at a time, the centre will provide 24-hour on-site support, with dedicated case managers to advise on health services, safety planning, income support, enrolling children in education, and rebuilding social and community connections. Support will also focus on addressing the ongoing impact of trauma, tailored to individual circumstances and cultural backgrounds.
Suzanne Caren, MercyCare General Manager of Youth, Wellbeing and Accommodation, said there’s an urgent need for crisis and transitional accommodation in the region.
“We’ve seen a growing demand for family and domestic violence support across Broome and the wider Kimberley. Many families need intensive, wraparound support to rebuild their lives following experiences of violence, and this demand consistently exceeds available services,” she said.
Broome’s FDV Refuge, which we began operating in February 2025, is currently running at 95% capacity. Between July 2025 and May 2026, almost 500 women had to be turned away, with half reporting rough sleeping amid a shortage of safe and affordable housing options.
Alongside immediate crisis support, Jalbingan will also offer up to three months transitional accommodation for those in need. It will help women secure safe and sustainable long-term housing through assistance with applications, tenancy readiness, advocacy with housing providers, and connecting families with community-based support that can continue after they leave.
“Our goal is to create an environment where all residents feel welcomed, valued and empowered as they work towards healing and long-term stability. Staff will adopt a trauma-informed and person-centred approach, recognising that every family’s journey and recovery needs are different,” Suzanne said.
“We are very grateful to our teams, government and delivery partners for bringing Jalbingan to life. It will provide a vital safe haven for vulnerable women and children, while helping to address the significant service gap in one of Western Australia’s most remote regions. This is an important step forward in our long-standing commitment to ending FDV and supporting regional communities.”
